Without hesitation, one of the men moved around the table and opened the door. I stiffened in surprise when Jake walked inside. Even though Dad obviously thought Jake was there to do me harm, I wondered if he’d come to help me escape. I hoped. The guy did work for us, at least he used to. I kept my face blank, not wanting to give away my confusing emotions.
“Show Cameron how it’s going to feel if she doesn’t tell us the truth.”
Jake stopped in front of me; we stood, face to face.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered.
I had only a split second to prepare when I felt the push to my mental wall. Startled, I reinforced the block, determined to keep him out; determined to win this battle of wills. Obviously he wasn’t going to help me escape.
We focused on each other and the room faded. I wasn’t about to let him in. I wasn’t sure how long we stood there, staring each other down, but I wasn’t about to give up. Sweat broke out on my forehead, my body trembled. I was weaker than normal. Maybe from lack of sleep, or maybe from that stupid stun-gun, but I couldn’t lose. I
wouldn’t
lose.
Suddenly my mental wall weakened. Panicked, I struggled to keep it in place, to rebuild the crumbling protection. He’d won. Pain sliced through my brain. I cried out, stumbling and falling to my knees. For a brief moment, the world went black. The metallic taste of my own blood brought me back to reality. Fluorescent lights pulsed above, voices fading in and out of focus, but my heart continued to beat in my ears, drowning out all noise.
I’m sorry,
Jake’s thought whispered through my mind as he left the room.
Strong hands gripped my upper arms and jerked me to my feet. The area came sharply back into focus. Dad stood in front of me, his face stone. “This is only a pittance compared to what you’re going to experience.”
I jerked away from the guards holding me and swiped the blood from my nose. “The least you could do is have the balls to hurt me yourself. Or do you not have the power?” I mocked.
He didn’t respond, but turned toward the guards. “Take her back.”
As if he hadn’t a care in the world, I watched my dad smooth down his shirt and saunter off, while the guards dragged me from the room.
I didn’t bother to fight as they pushed me back down the steps and past the many empty cells. Didn’t bother to look at Deborah, who watched me from her cot. Nor Lewis, who stood near his bars, as if he hadn’t moved an inch since I’d left.
I didn’t bother because I was embarrassed and angry. Angry that Jake had gotten through my mental wall; embarrassed that I’d folded so easily. And that damn blood trailing from my nose said to all who saw me that I’d failed. I lifted my arms and swiped my nose with the back of my hand, a smear of blood across the pale skin. What was the point of being the Source if everyone and their mother could beat you at these ridiculous games?
The female guard shoved me forward, sending me stumbling back into my cell. “Hands.”
I managed to catch myself. The door clanged shut with a force that vibrated the walls around me.
“Hands,” she snapped again.
“Three against one? Someone’s scared,” Lewis said in an even tone.
The two male guards threw him a glare, but Miss High and Mighty didn’t even look as if she cared. I slid my arms through the bars and they unhooked me. My throat tightened as I resisted the urge to tell her exactly what I thought about her and the entire compound. At least I was away from Dad and his arrogant smirk.
“Don’t worry,” one of the male guards grinned at Lewis. “You’re next. Prepare for hell.”
“I’ll see you there,” Lewis hissed.
I rubbed my wrists, the skin raw from the handcuffs, and slid Lewis a glance as the guards walked away. “Stop,” I whispered. “Stop trying to take their attention from me and onto you. It won’t work.”
He ignored me, shoving away from the bars and pacing the small cell. It wasn’t until we heard the door shut that Lewis finally spoke to me. “What happened?”
“Jake,” I said.
He frowned. “Jake?”
I settled on the edge of my cot, my body weak from the attack. I kept forgetting how little Lewis knew and I wasn’t up for a multitude of questions. I just wanted to lay back and try to sleep, try to forget for a few moments.
“Blond guy, our age,” I said, knowing he needed answers. “I met him about a month ago when I lived with my dad. I knew he was powerful, but didn’t realize how powerful. He…broke into my mind.” A heated flush of embarrassment raced to my cheeks. Silly, that after all that had happened something like this would shame me.
“You’re weakened from the stun-gun,” he said. “It’s not surprising he was able to break into your mind. It’s why they use it, to lower your defenses.”
I knew he was trying to make me feel better, it didn’t work. But then Lewis didn’t know I was the freaking carrier of the source. I was supposed to be the all-knowing, all-powerful.
“Did he get anything important?”
I rubbed my temples, wondering when the pounding ache would fade, if ever. “I don’t think they got anything. It was more of a warning.”
He pushed away from the bars and paced his cell, obviously agitated. He’d changed so much since that first time I’d met him in Maine. His face more angular, hair so short it was almost gone, he even had scruff along his cheeks and chin. But in this last week he’d changed even more, not just physically, but something within. There was almost a hardened look in his gaze; a look that said he’d seen and experienced too much. The same look I’d seen on Nora’s face upon occasion.
I squeezed my eyes shut and lay on my side, tucking my knees to my chest. This was my fault. If I hadn’t been so gung ho about finding him, if I had just left him to his pleasant life in Massachusetts, he wouldn’t be here now. He wouldn’t know me. He wouldn’t hate me.
“I’m sorry.” I said it so softly I hadn’t expected him to hear.
“About what?”
I opened my eyes to see him standing at the bars again.
“It’s my fault you were caught. If I’d only left you alone—”
“Cameron.” He sighed and rested his forehead to the bars. “I was going insane in Massachusetts. I didn’t know where I came from, why I was there, who I was. Do you have any idea what it feels like to know practically nothing about your past?”
I stood and moved as close to him as possible. “You’re just trying to make me feel better.”
“No, I mean it.”
We were so close, yet distanced by those thick, steel bars. How badly I wanted to touch him. Maybe if I could just hold his hand I’d know the truth. I thought I’d lost everything when Lewis’ mind had been erased. Now I realized I had so much more left to lose. He might not remember me or our relationship, but it was still there…that connection between us. Wasn’t it?
“I’m just sorry you got caught,” he whispered.
For the love of God, will you two shut up and start planning an escape?
The voice invaded my brain, startling me. Lewis looked just as shocked as I felt.
“Did you…” he couldn’t seem to go on.
I shook my head. No, I hadn’t said the words, but there was only one other mind reader in attendance. Slowly, I turned, looking down the hall.
Deborah?
No, it’s God.
I could hear the sarcasm even through my mind.
I glanced back at Lewis, feeling the sudden urge to laugh. Deborah was here; her normal biting self. Lewis watched me with a combination of confusion and leeriness. He didn’t understand; with Deborah here, able to communicate with us, we had more in our corner…maybe.
“It’s Deborah,” I said, as if that explained it all.
“Deborah?”
The one and only,
she replied.
I see my reputation supersedes me.
I ignored her. “She’s the one I told you about, the one who works with Aaron. The woman who worked with…you.”
He released a harsh laugh and shoved away from the bars, pacing his small room like a wild animal contained. I could feel his frustration from across the cell. He was angry that he couldn’t remember her. Angry that he was so lost. I knew how he felt, but my memory had come back. I doubted his ever would.
So what’s the plan?
she asked.
Why do you assume there’s one?
Yeah, I was slightly suspicious of her. At this point I’d be totally stupid not to be.
Please, you wouldn’t have returned if you didn’t have a plan. I’m assuming you found Aaron. I’m assuming you made some sort of plan to rescue your precious Lewis, which is why you’re here. I also assume they didn’t approve of your plan.
I glanced at Lewis to see how he was taking this information. He had stilled in the middle of his cell, his arms crossed over his chest, a dark scowl upon his face. Annoyed, frustrated, impatient, I could read it all in his blue eyes.
So,
she continued.
I assume you have little to no help. But you also must have some sort of a plan.
I pushed away from the bars and began to pace my own cell. I didn’t like her; I didn’t trust her. But I had so few people on my side.
What do they know?
I asked, ignoring her question.
What have they gotten out of you?
Not much as Aaron erased vital information before I came here.
I froze. Dear God, he had erased parts of her memory too? But the difference was that she had wanted it. The memories hadn’t been torn from her mind.
Why did you come here?
To help the children escape.
I sank onto the edge of my cot. The children had been here the entire time? All those weeks I’d spent with my dad, the children had been here, imprisoned, so close.
Caroline?
Yes, and others.
How many?
Ten were abducted, but I can’t be sure they all ended up here. Who knows?
She didn’t seem overly concerned.
Children?
Lewis asked.
Here, in this compound, there are little children?
I nodded, collapsing back onto my cot. I didn’t know what exactly Deborah remembered, or Lewis knew. And I didn’t dare tell them much for fear that when they were questioned, S.P.I. would get the information they needed. But I knew one thing, I wasn’t leaving this compound without Lewis and without Caroline. The child had trusted me; she had begged me to return for her. I would save her, even if it meant giving up my own life.
The lights went out, throwing the prison into darkness once more.
Better get to sleep,
Deborah said.
They’ll be coming for you soon, and you’ll need all the rest you can get.
****
The lights burst on, startling me from an uneasy slumber. Confused, I bolted upright. I knew I had gotten only a couple hours of sleep, at the most. My mind felt buzzed, my body almost numb from lack of rest.
“Hell,” I muttered, pressing my hands to my temples.
The thump of my heart mirrored the thump of feet coming closer…closer. I shoved my hands into the cot, trying to stand, but the cell spun, and I ended up falling back to the bed. I needed rest. I needed food. One meal a day wasn’t doing me any good. And I needed answers. Not knowing what they would do to me next was maddening. But I supposed the suspense of it all gave them the upper hand.
The guard arrived with her silent entourage. “Hands.”
With a glare, I stood. Lewis was sitting up on his cot, watching me helplessly. I read the despair in his eyes and it practically killed me. I knew the feeling well. He wanted to stop them; he hated the fact that he could do nothing. How often had I felt helpless in my life? I moved casually to the bars and slid my arms through. She slapped the cuffs over my wrists.
“Tell him I’ve got information,” Lewis demanded, his voice echoing down the hall.
He lied, and obviously they knew it as well. He was trying to get them to take him instead and I appreciated his effort, but knew it wouldn’t work. He didn’t realize I was the carrier and my father wanted no one but me.
“Step back,” she demanded.
I moved back and she pressed her hand to the keypad to unlock my door. I glanced once more at Lewis, realizing that this could be the last time I’d see him. How I wanted to act cocky, cool, but my nerves flared with every step down that corridor I took. Truth was I had no real plan, and I knew I had to come up with one fast. I wasn’t sure how many more of these attacks I could handle, and I knew they’d only get worse.
I moved past Deborah’s cell. She was watching me with sad resignation.
If you have a plan, better put it in place soon.
I sent her a glare right before I was shoved out the door. I was taken up those steps, but we didn’t go through the door I expected, instead we stopped at a level below the interrogation room. Before I had time to question our new location, the guard shoved open the door.
A long, narrow room spread out before me. Twin beds were placed along the left side of the room, desks on the right. At least ten children were seated at those desks, facing adult S.P.I. agents. I took it all in with a sort of stupefied shock. Agents were holding up cards, while the children guessed what was printed on the back. Other children wore skullcaps with wires that connected to computers.
None of the children looked injured. Yet, I knew what their future held; either join the ranks, or suffer the consequences. A few of the children looked my way. Some, I swore I recognized from Aaron’s home that year ago. What sickened me most was realizing that they had been so close this entire time.
“Why am I here?” I demanded.
A chair screeched across the linoleum floor and my father stood up; he’d been half-hidden behind another agent. He smiled as he strolled toward me with an easy gait that made me more than nervous. This was not a man worried; this was a man sure he would win.
“Why am I here?” I repeated the question.
Dad stopped a few feet from me. “Why, I merely wanted to show you some of our team players.”
I laughed, drawing more attention. “Team players? Please, you kidnapped these children and are forcing them to work for you.”